Starfishes of genus Astropecten live on mobile seabed (sandy, muddy or gravel seabed) and they remain largely buried under sediment during the day. During the late afternoon and the night starfishes go out to hunt mainly bivalve molluscs, which are their favourite preys. Unlike other Astropecten, this species is active and easy to find during day, especially in early morning and late afternoon. This species lives only in the Mediterranean Sea and it prefers sandy seabed at low depths as between 1 and 12 m.
Description
This sea star has superomarginal plates with a very short spines or without spines (usually the plates between the arms are devoid of spines). The inferomarginal plate has a short and pot external spine, arranged with great regularity, normally kept parallel to one another and rather rigid. The inferomarginal spines have dark orange colour at the base and white-yellowish towards the tip on going to draw a sort of orange outline at the base of the sea star. The overall shape is very peculiar with bigger disc than other species and arms rather court, triangular and very pointed that accentuates the classic shape of the star. The colour of aboral side is pretty clear with various nuances that can be tending towards beige, turquoise-green or grey-brown. It is the smallest species of Astropecten in the Mediterranean Sea with a maximum diameter of about 7–8 cm. This starfish has a lot of features and can be distinguished easily by its overall shape, size and colour. Rarely it is confused with very young specimens of Astropecten platyacanthus.
Feeding
Astropecten jonstoni
This sea star is a carnivore and feeds on molluscs, which it catches with its arms and then takes to the mouth. The prey is then trapped by the long, moving prickles around the mouth cavity.
References
(in English) Roberto Pillon (2009). Astropecten of the Mediterranean Sea
(in French) Koehler, Réné. 1921. Faune de France. Echinodermes.
(in Italian) Tortonese, Enrico. 1965. Fauna d'Italia. Echinodermata.
(in German) Ludwig, Hubert. 1897. Die Seesterne des Mittelmeeres. Zoologischen station zu Neapel.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Astropecten jonstoni.
(in English) Downloadable WoRMS: Roberto Pillon (2009). Astropecten of the Mediterranean Sea
(in Italian) Downloadable WoRMS: Roberto Pillon (2009). Orientarsi in un mare di stelle
(in French) DORIS
(in English) WoRMS
(in English) SeaLifeBase
(in French) Côte Bleue
(in Italian) Naturamediterraneo
March 15, 2023
astropecten, jonstoni, star, family, astropectinidae, bottomscientific, classificationkingdom, animaliaphylum, echinodermataclass, asteroideaorder, paxillosidafamily, astropectinidaegenus, astropectenspecies, jonstonibinomial, name, delle, chiaje, 1825, conten. Astropecten jonstoni is a sea star of the family Astropectinidae Astropecten jonstoniAstropecten jonstoni on sea bottomScientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum EchinodermataClass AsteroideaOrder PaxillosidaFamily AstropectinidaeGenus AstropectenSpecies A jonstoniBinomial nameAstropecten jonstoni Delle Chiaje 1825 Contents 1 Habitat and behaviour 2 Description 3 Feeding 4 References 5 External linksHabitat and behaviour EditStarfishes of genus Astropecten live on mobile seabed sandy muddy or gravel seabed and they remain largely buried under sediment during the day During the late afternoon and the night starfishes go out to hunt mainly bivalve molluscs which are their favourite preys Unlike other Astropecten this species is active and easy to find during day especially in early morning and late afternoon This species lives only in the Mediterranean Sea and it prefers sandy seabed at low depths as between 1 and 12 m Description EditThis sea star has superomarginal plates with a very short spines or without spines usually the plates between the arms are devoid of spines The inferomarginal plate has a short and pot external spine arranged with great regularity normally kept parallel to one another and rather rigid The inferomarginal spines have dark orange colour at the base and white yellowish towards the tip on going to draw a sort of orange outline at the base of the sea star The overall shape is very peculiar with bigger disc than other species and arms rather court triangular and very pointed that accentuates the classic shape of the star The colour of aboral side is pretty clear with various nuances that can be tending towards beige turquoise green or grey brown It is the smallest species of Astropecten in the Mediterranean Sea with a maximum diameter of about 7 8 cm This starfish has a lot of features and can be distinguished easily by its overall shape size and colour Rarely it is confused with very young specimens of Astropecten platyacanthus Feeding Edit Astropecten jonstoni This sea star is a carnivore and feeds on molluscs which it catches with its arms and then takes to the mouth The prey is then trapped by the long moving prickles around the mouth cavity References Edit in English Roberto Pillon 2009 Astropecten of the Mediterranean Sea in French Koehler Rene 1921 Faune de France Echinodermes in Italian Tortonese Enrico 1965 Fauna d Italia Echinodermata in German Ludwig Hubert 1897 Die Seesterne des Mittelmeeres Zoologischen station zu Neapel External links Edit Animals portal Wikimedia Commons has media related to Astropecten jonstoni in English Downloadable WoRMS Roberto Pillon 2009 Astropecten of the Mediterranean Sea in Italian Downloadable WoRMS Roberto Pillon 2009 Orientarsi in un mare di stelle in French DORIS in English WoRMS in English SeaLifeBase in French Cote Bleue in Italian Naturamediterraneo Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Astropecten jonstoni amp oldid 1091165864, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
